Prevention of CCl4 - Induced hepatotoxicity by aqueous extract of turmeric

The potential efficacy of the turmeric antioxidant protein (TAP) isolated f rom aqueous extract of turmeric (Curcuma longa) in protecting tissues from peroxidative damage was studied in the carbon tetrachloride treated rats. T he increased basal as well as promoter induced lipid peroxide formation in the tissues of CCl4 treated rats was significantly inhibited by 40-70% by T AP administration. The observed decreased antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), g lutathione-S-transferase (GST) and antioxidant concentrations of reduced gl utathione (GSH), total (TSH), protein (PSH) and non-protein (NPSH) thiols a nd ascorbic acid in the liver of CCl4 treated rats were nearly normalized o n TAP pretreatment. The increased activities registered with glucose-6-phos phate dehydrogenase (G6PD),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine transaminas e (ALT) and aspartate transminase (AST) in the liver of CCl4 treated rats w ere confered protection by 50-80% on TAP treatment. Glucose-6-phosphatase ( G6Pase) and the membrane bound ATPase activities were decreased in CCl4 tre ated animals and were completely restored on TAP treatment, thus, suggestin g that TAP treatment prevents tissue injury by neutralizing the oxidative s tress induced changes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.